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Sandy-ravaged New Jersey borough reopens boardwalk

LAVALLETTE, N.J. -- The borough is open and ready for the unofficial start of summer this Memorial Day weekend. But will the tourists come? "That's a very good question," said Mayor Walter G. LaCicero, as he

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Sandy-ravaged New Jersey borough reopens boardwalk

Erik Larsen, Asbury Park (N.J.) Press
10:35 p.m. EDT May 20, 2013

Gov. Chris Christie made Lavallette the first stop on his weeklong tour of the shore.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (left) visits Lavallette to witness the completion of the boardwalk in town which was destroyed by superstorm Sandy. He walks the new boards with Lavallette mayor Walter LaCicero and his wife Joann.(Photo: Gannett/Bob Bielk, Asbury Park (N.J.) Press)

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LAVALLETTE, N.J. -- The borough is open and ready for the unofficial start of summer this Memorial Day weekend. But will the tourists come?

"That's a very good question," said Mayor Walter G. LaCicero, as he waited on the oceanfront to greet Gov. Chris Christie on Monday morning, ahead of a ceremony marking the end of the municipal boardwalk's $1.3 million reconstruction, seven months after superstorm Sandy pulverized all but a quarter mile of the borough landmark.

"I have been having conversations with all the real estate brokers here, I think we're going to be a little bit off initially," LaCicero said. "I know people are anxious to get here. ... People want to be here."

LaCicero told Christie that the borough has about a 75 percent occupancy rate booked for summer rentals. The mayor said he feels more hopeful about July more than he does this weekend or June.

After he met the mayor for a four-block stroll along the new boardwalk, Christie brimmed in optimism as he addressed hundreds of residents and local schoolchildren who had gathered to catch a glimpse of New Jersey's celebrity governor and share in his enthusiasm for the recovery of their town.

Indeed, Lavallette was to be the first stop on a weeklong tour of the Jersey Shore for Christie, where he was expected to address similar crowds, extolling the resilience of its people and applauding the efforts of local officials who have managed to get their beach towns tourist-ready in time for the coming holiday weekend.

"This is the first symbol, for us, of making sure this week that everybody across the state, across the region, and across America knows that the Jersey Shore is open for the summer and ready to receive our customers," Christie said. "And if I had predicted that to you when I came here the first week in November, for the first time, when everything looked the way it looked, we all would have wondered if that could be possible."

In those dark days after the storm, Christie stopped in at Lenny's Pizza & Italian Grill, where the storm surge on Oct. 29 brought 20 inches of water into the dining room and kitchen. Owners and brothers Phil and Benny D'Aloisio started the task of rebuilding their 30-year-old business with their own hands as soon as they were allowed back into town. In summers past, Christie, his wife Mary Pat, and their four children, were regulars when they vacationed on the Shore.

"We were closed for 11 weeks," said Phil D'Aloisio. "Him and his wife, they came in as my brother and I, some of our people here, were doing demolition work. … He personally wanted to express his genuine concern."

Phil D'Aloisio said he fought back tears Monday as he stood in the audience, listening to Christie mention the restaurant as one of the places his family planned to visit when they spend this weekend at the governor's official summer residence in Island Beach State Park.

"So you'll probably see us at Lenny's in Lavallette at some point," Christie said. "We seem to make our way there, at least once, every weekend that we're here. We love it, but it's especially where the kids like to go. ... We're thrilled that we're going to be able to be back, and be customers here in Lavallette for all the great businesses and folks who live here and work here."